Transcript 02-Sex Research

Sex Research
How do we learn new information
about sex?
Research Methods
 Case studies
 Surveys
 Direct observation
 Experimental studies
Case Studies
 Male lost penis at circumcision - Joan /
John
 Transsexuals
 Incest victims (survivors)
 Sex offenders
Surveys
 Source of most of our scientific information about
sexuality
 Alfred Kinsey
 First extensive survey of American sexual behavior
 Kinsey institute
 http://www.indiana.edu/~kinsey/
 National health & Social Life Survey
 Single best survey ever conducted of adult sexual behavior
Surveys of men exposed to
violent pornography
indicated:
 Reduced sensitivity to rape victims
 Increased tolerance of sexually aggressive
behavior
 A grater acceptance of the myth that
women want to be raped
Survey samples
 Population
 Random sample
 Self selected “sample” = not
representative
 E.g. Radio talk show listeners
Direct observation studies
 Masters & Johnson
 http://www.mastersandjohnson.com/
 Studies the sexual response cycle & physiological
responses
 Equipment
 Penile strain gauge(Penile Plethysmograph)
 Vaginal photoplethysmograph
 Measures increased vaginal blood volume
 Color changes
Experimental studies
 E.g. Movies in sex therapy
 Can make cause and effect conclusions
Variables
 Example
 Rapists & nonrapists listen to taped
descriptions of rape and consensual sex
 Do these recordings affect one more than the
other?
 How do we measure the effect of the
recordings?
 What is the independent variable?
 What is the dependent variable?
Variables
 Independent variable
 The one we can control
 Taped descriptions
 Dependent variables
 Penile tumescence
 Penile strain gauge
Another example
 High school condom distribution & effect
on pregnancies
 Freely available VS from nurse
 Independent variable?
 Dependent variable?